Container for rodenticides



July 20, 1954 J. D. HOPKINS CONTAINER FOR RODENTICIDES Filed Nov. 20, 1951 ATTORNEY Patented July 20, 1954 UNITED STS P'ENT OFFICE Hopkins Madison,

Agricultural Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Chemical Company,

Application November 20, 1951, Serial No. 257,231

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in expansible containers and is concerned particularly with combined receptacles and holders for dispensing and using rodenticides.

Rodenticides, commonly, are highly poisonous and users desirably employ careful protective measures in handling and setting the same out for use. Further such handling by humans often destroys the efficacy of the rodenticide and tends toward waste.

It is a general object of the invention to correct the foregoing disadvantages and to provide a convenient, compact package for the sale of a rodenticide which package may be readily converted into an elongated chamber or run for effective use of the rodenticide without the necessity of handling the same.

It is a more particular object of the invention to provide a container made up of telescoping sections which normally are retracted to form a compact structure for shipping and selling the rodenticide and which are adapted to be relatively extended when the rodenticide is set out for use to form a covered elongated housing with access for a number of rodents but providing protection for the poisonous material. It is intended also that the extended sections will provide an increased surface area for the display of advertising and precautionary instructions which usually accompany the sale of poisonous materials.

The invention further contemplates the provision of an expanded container which is adapted to be returned to normal compacted condition again to form a closed receptacle for protective storage of the poisonous material until further use thereof is desired.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed explanation taken in conjunction With the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the principles of the invention has been selected for exemplification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side perspective view of a container 1 constructed in accordance with the present invention shown in expanded condition as when the rodenticide is set out for use;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the container in retracted condition as when the Fig. 4 is a lengthwise vertical sectional view taken on the line 4 6 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary lengthwise vertical sectional view taken on the lines 5--5 of Eig. 2 having the intermediate portion thereof broken away; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View of a modified construction wherein the adjacent abutting fingers overlap.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like parts, a container constructed in accordance with the present invention is represented in its expanded condition in Fig. 1 and in its telescoped or contracted position in Fig. 2. Such a container is adapted to receive any suitable rodenticide such as Warfarin, either in powder or pellet form. As shown, a plurality of retracted and interitting sections are provided such as the inner section l0, one or more intermediate sections l2 and the outer section I 4. These sections may be of any desired geometrical configuration but the trapezoidal cross-sectional configuration shown has been found particularly desirable from the standpoint of general utility of the device. The various sections are preferably formed of expendible cardboard or other inexpensive cellulosic material which may be waterproofed or weather proofed in any suitable manner if desired.

The sections may be folded and secured in any suitable manner in box-life form and, as shown, the inner section Il] is provided at its forward end with closure aps I6 and I8 and the outer section I 4 is provided at its rearward end with closure flaps 20 and 22. The other ends of the sections IQ and It and both ends of the intermediate section IZ remain open so as to provide an unobstructed elongated passageway throughout the interior of the series of sections when the same are pulled apart in extended position.

For providing access to such interior, selected sections or, if desired, each of the sections I 0, I2 and it may be provided with scored lines 24, 26 and 28, respectively, at opposed side wall portions dening window closures 30, 32 and 34, respectively. Such window closures are thus adapted to be disengaged partially from their respective side walls or removed in their entirety as shown in the open Window portion of section I2 in Fig. 1.

For limiting the relative outward sliding movement of the sections I0, I2 and I4 and preventing relative disengagement, the adjacent ends of each of the sections are provided at their top and opposed side wall portions with projecting iingers which in the assembled container are reversely bent along their respective supporting walls to form abutments 36 for the section I0, abutments 38 and 40 for the forward and rearward ends, respectively, of the section I2 and abutments 42 for the section I4. As best shown in Fig. 4, the adjacent ngers are relatively opposed, so that when the sections are pulled apart in extended position the ngers or abutments 36 and 38 will meet in end to end engagement to limit relative sliding movement of the sections I and I2 and the ngers or abutments 40 and 42 will meet in end to end engagement to limit relative sliding movement of the sections l2 and I4. As shown in Fig. 6 the fingers or abutments 36 and 38, and the fingers or abutments 40 and 42, respectively, may be slidaloly engaged or interlocked when the sections are pulled apart to limit the respective relative sliding movement of the sections IE and I@ and the relative sliding movement of sections I2 and I4.

For facilitating grasping of the sections in order that the same may be more readily opened or pulled apart, recesses dfi and d6 are cut out of the forward edges of the side wall portions of sections I2 and Ill, respectively, whereby to expose side wall portions of the inner section iii when the container is telescoped or closed as will best appear in Fig. 2. 1t will be apparent that a user has merely to grasp the thus exposed portions of the section I 0 between his thumb and iorennger of one hand and relatively pull the outer section I4 with his other hand.

It is believed that the use and operation of the device will be readily apparent from the foregoing without further detailed explanation. The particular construction of the device herein illustrated and described is, as stated, exemplary only and the invention embraces within its purview all modifications thereof coming Within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

l. A receptacle and holder for consumption of rodenticides which comprises, a plurality of successively interengaging and intertting hollow sections relatively slidably arranged to provide when retracted a closed compact receptacle and to provide when extended a relatively elongated chamber, said sections including bottom, top and opposed sidewall portions, and the end sections each having an end wall in opposed relation, the opposed portions of said sidewalls of selected sections having scored lines defining cut out portions to denne, when partially separated, openings into the interior of said chamber when said sections are extended and means disposed between adjacent sections and carried by the sidewall portions thereof to limit the extended positions of said sections.

A receptacle and holder for consumption of rodenticides which comprises, a plurality of successively interengaging and intertting hollow sections relatively slidably arranged to provide when retracted a closed compact receptacle and CFI to provide when extended a relatively elongated chamber, said sections including bottom, top and opposed sidewall portions, and the end sections each having an end wall in opposed relation, the opposed portions of said sidewalls of selected sections having scored lines defining cut out portions to delne, when partially separated, openings into the interior of said chamber when said sections are extended, recessed portions provided in the free forward edges of opposed sidewall portions of the outer sections of the assembly to provide finger holds for successively extending said sections and means disposed between adjacent sections and carried by the top and sidewall portions thereof to limit the extended positions ci" said sections.

3. A receptacle and holder for consumption of rodenticides which comprises, a plurality of successively interengaging and intertting hollow sections relatively slidably arranged to provide when retracted a closed compact receptacle and to provide when extended a relatively7 elongated chamber, said sections including bottom, top and opposed sidewall portions, and the end sections each having an end wall in opposed relation, removable scored parts on adjacent sidewall portions of said sections dening entrances into the interior of said chamber when said sections are extended, the said scored parts being in substantial alignment when said sections are retracted whereby the plurality of scored parts of said sections may be substantially simultaneously removed in a single operation and means disposed between adjacent sections to limit the extended positions of said sections.

4. A receptacle and holder for consumption of rodenticides which comprises, a plurality of successively interengaging and intertting hollow sections relatively slidably arranged to provide when retracted a closed compact receptacle and to provide when extended a relatively elongated chamber, said sections including top, relatively wide bottom and vertically sloped opposed sidewall portions whereby to provide, when viewed in transverse cross section, a trapezoidal configuration, the end sections each having an end wall in opposed relation, the opposed portions of said sidewalls of selected sections having scored lines deiining cut out portions to denne, when partially separated, openings into the interior of said chamber when said sections are extended and means disposed between adjacent sections and carried by the sidewall portions thereof to limit the extended positions of said sections.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 561,167 Jennings June 2, 1896 588,930 Rowland Aug. 24, 1897 687,968 Reber Dec. 3, 1901 984,352 Costello Feb. 14, 1911 2,361,984 Williamson Nov. '7, 1944 2,453,286 Von Clem Nov. 9, 1948 

